Musings from America 3 - familiar but different

 

I expected things in the USA to be a bit different, language for example........trash = rubbish, gas = petrol, etc but I was taken by surprise by my experience at the gas station, ...........see what I did, speaking in the vernacular already !

The vehicle I have borrowed, (they say truck) is a 5.7 litre V8 ......... economical it is not, though I cannot yet calculate consumption ....suffice to say not a lot ...........but this is compensated by the price. Now Americans complain just as the British do but without a true reason. A simple calculation

Price, depending on grade, three kinds of unleaded petrol, take the midpoint $3.30 per gallon, this is therefore $0.66 per the litre we are now using, the dollar and the pound are about 1.5, thus 41p, compare to £1.35 where it was when I last filled up in UK ...........how the Brits would celebrate if the USA price applied there !

Anyway, back to the plot. My nearest dearest and family, had gone to Church, let me come back to USA and religion another time, so I had a run into Nashville City Centre. Not over impressed, nothing adverse, just "ordinary" though it was Sunday and not so many cars or people, apart from those queuing up to park for the Titans game, they being the local pro football team, the sat nav wanting me to join the street with the queue, which I respectfully declined. The nice American lady in the Ipad did not complain.

On the way back, I saw the gauge for gas reading low, time for a fill up. First thing was to check out where the filler is, I pulled into a car park for something, every business, out of the City proper anyway, has car spaces, and located and tried out the key to unlock ....... success ...... the satisfaction was to be short lived .......... a little further on I pulled into a gas station, a bit of U turning to get the filler next to the pump, no way the hose would reach over the Nissan, ........... digression pronounced Neesan here.

So to the pump, seemed a bit old, but had the usual nozzles, and credit card slot but the display was frosted over and difficult to read. Unclear as to which way the card went in, tried all 4 possibilities, not working, tried another card, same. In hindsight I should have given up then and gone to a more modern station but I really did not want to run out, as I had no spare can and no telephone number for my hosts who were at Church anyway, so I persevered.

There was a fading notice in small print that said to pay in cash go to office first. Clearly a trust issue, imagine that happening at a Tesco or Shell etc. So to the office, explaining that my cards did not seem to work, got no response, alas I seemed to have a man of few words, or at least few words of English, my Spanish is not good enough and whilst this may be a good guess, lots of Mexicans around in this area, I then tried 'can I pay by cash'. Well yes I could but how much would I pay he asks .............. well I realise I have no idea on how big the tank is on the Neesan, apparently big, I learn later. No help from the attendant, so I go for $50, I pay he gives me a receipt and thereafter takes no interest in me.

Back to the car, unlock the doors and petrol cap again, at least I had the sense not to leave either open during my absences, trying to explain my car has been stolen was not an experience I wanted........pick up pump, inset, press handle, zero, nadda, nothing, the display says $50, replaced pump handle try again.........starting to get a little peeved. Press some buttons pretty much at random.........no gas.

Lock up again and back to the office, Mr Talkative had disappeared, three new people at counter, one lady, two men, looks of puzzlement, as I seek instructions, one man, more talkative than the others, says I will show you, again accent uncertain, but gratefully follow him back to pump, unlock again, he presses buttons, without explanation, withdraws nozzle sticks in car filler, somehow locks on the flow and leaves it dispensing and returns to the office. Not much wiser but pleased to be receiving the "make the Neesan go juice" I wait, the handle clicks, ah I think, it has fulfilled its promise of $50 worth of gas, so I take the handle out, at which point it dispenses petrol over the forecourt, my shoes and hands.

Remaining suitably calm, on the surface only, I gave in to an overwhelming desire to leave. Replace cap, replace nozzle get in and go, I resist any inclination to go back into the office and explain, I get in drive off and open windows to evaporate smell........

I have some more petrol, but looking at gauge not a lot, I decline to try again today but mentally note that I want a newer station with shiny pumps next time.

Later when I recount the incident, I am advised that American cards operate on the magnetic strip on the back and do not have the chip that EU ones have, so my cards are probably not recognised and hence I cannot enter PIN, but that not all stations require cash up front ........ a better class area is also needed in my choice for finally filling up........tomorrow is another day, another unexpected experience, the discovery of everyday USA life to be continued.